The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-11-11
G.. A. R. CAMPFIRE.
A Very Successful and Most Enjoyable
Entertainment Saturday Evening in
Honor of Judge Rea.
The Speeches, Banquet and Toasts.

The Speeches, Banquet and Toasts.
Wilkin Post, G. A. R., did itself proud
IA it's first campfire of the season Satur-
day evening, and the committee in
charge of the affair have every reason to
feel proud of the successful and pleasant
way in which the affair passed off. The
attendance was very large, the Opera
House being crowded to it's full capacity,
and many members of the g. A. r., from
surrounding places were present. All
who attended were more than pleased
with the entertainment afforded.
The exercises of the evening opened
with several animated selections by the
Second Regiment band, after which DIR.
Jacoby, as master of ceremonies, intro
duced Rev. r. M. Carter, who invoked
divine blessing upon the exercises of
the occasion. At the conclusion of his
most appropriate and eloquent prayer,
the Congregational choir rendered a
beautiful quartette in highly creditable
manner. DIR. Jacoby then made a few
remarks, explaining that some changes
in the original program had been made
necessary by the non-arrival of Judge
Rea until late in the evening. He
closed by introducing Gen. ]. III. Baker.
Gen. Baker opened his remarks by
saying that nothing was so beautiful or
became great nation SO much as peace,
when the people could develop them
selves to the fullest extent. There was
no calamity as destructive as war and
1t could only be justified when its pur-
pose was holy. No war was so holy as
that for the salvation of the Union. An
alyZe the character of the motives that
instigated all wars from most ancient
times and in almost all of them wicked,
improper and perverted motives will
be found. England's wars were for
conquest, colonial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and
other unjustifiable causes. Though our
own wars were more justItiable than
any ever held, yet the speaker was not
sure that all of them could be justified.
The Mexican war might better have
been settled by arbitration but the mo-
tive for it was deep in the political feel
Ing of the country. Though the mo-
tive was the eXtention of human slavery,
the fell purpose was diverted and no
slave set foot on the soil of the territory
acquired. The civil war was pure, holy
and necessary if ever there was one.
This country had been the asylum for
the downtrodden of all nations, the only
republic on the face of the earth that
was true to the liberty and rights of
man. For the sake of the extension of
slavery and to make it constitutional
the South would have blotted out the
republic and overthrown human rights.
Had the South been successful the gov
eminent would have been Mexicanized
and half dozen republics would have
sprung up and free government proba-
bly, retarded for centuries.
The spontaniety with which men raj
lied to preserve the union and the flag
was wonderful and grand. They came
out with the noblest of purposes and
could invoke the aid of high Heaven on
their course as God and the angels knew
that the cause was just. Every old SOL
der can feel proud of the part he took
in that war. While old soldiers had no
more ownership over the national flag
than other citizens, yet they had a little
more right to reverence it as they had
baptized it with their blood.
Now that the war was over there
came the Grand Army of the Republic
a natural and logical product of the
past. That they should come together
and recount their sufferings and troubles
was natural. 1t hurt no one, though
some thought so. Those who made
mouths at the organization were those
who were afraid to go to the war and
not the Southern soldiers. The organi-
zation carries with it an admonition and
a lesson, telling our own people that it
is impossible to tear down the fair fab
ric of the government. 1t was one of
tory of this or any other country, and
the speaker hoped that it would live on
as long as there was a single old soldier
left. 1t was without gun, banner or in
sigma of power, yet 1t was one of the
most tremendous engines of opinion
and power in the republic. 1t was not
a political machine, yet was a terrible
politician because politicians were afraid
of it. 1t was one of the chief bulwarks
of the nation and kept alive the fires of
patriotism and did not let them go out
on the sacred altar.
The band gave another selection at
the conclusion of Gen. Bakers remarks,
and Miss Sue Gleason was then INTRO
duced and read selection entitled
"The Widow McCree." Mr.. H. f.
Gerry, of Chicago. editor of The Com
rade, was the next speaker. He gave
an interesting account of the birth of
the G. A. r. and clearly presented the
objects and aims of the order. His re-
marks were closely listened to. Mr..
Gerry spoke feelingly of his regard for
Minnesota, as his native State. His ref
erence to the fate of the Chicago anarch-
lists was loudly applauded.
Miss Swami and Miss Hale then en-.
tertalned the audience with a beautiful
duet entitled, ely Away Birdling,'
which was enthusiastically received.
Rev. r. NJ. Carter next spoke, his re-
marks being both interesting and witty
At $50, it having been announced that
Commander-in-Ch Chief Rea had arrived al
the Opera House, the comrades were re.
quested to stand as he was escorted tc
the stage. Gen. Baker welcomed the
Chief in few well-fitted
remarks, stating that the entertainment
of the evening had been arranged as s
special compliment to Judge Rea, ant
Expressing the pleasure and honor which
the Post felt in having the opportunity
of welcoming their Commander-in-Ch Chief
The Judge responded, saying he re
turned thanks to the comrades of Man
kato for the very cordial reception ht
had received. He said that he had no
been selected commander-in-chie
through his own fitness so much al
through the high regard in which the
department of Minnesota was held
throughout the country and the COCO
impression given during the assembly
held in this State three years ago.
Coming down to his subject, Judge
Rea gave statistics of the strength of the
G.. A. r. organization and spoke of it,
difference from other societies. The
members of this organization were
brothers because in past years they had
fought, bled and waged war together
The time had come when every honor
ably discharged soldier wanted to get in
to the G.. A. r. and esteemed it an honor
to belong to it. All races, creeds and
politics were represented in it. The
speaker referred to the work that the G
| A. r. is doing and called attention tC
some things already done.
Beautiful monuments were being de
dicated to soldiers who died on the fielC
of battle. People sometimes asked wha
good they did. The speaker though
that they would inspire enthusiasm il
the future soldiers. More than eighteen
hundred years passed after Armen
Jus died in the dark German fores
before shaft was erected in hi
honor and the young Germans venerat,
it to-day.
All information concerning any OLE
soldier can be obtained through the in
strumentality of this organization. TIL,